Former NJ school official admits witness tampering

NEWARK – A former schools superintendent in North Jersey faces a prison term after pleading guilty to witness tampering.

Gary Vitta entered his plea Monday in federal court in Newark.

The 63-year-old Denville resident was Rockaway Township’s superintendent of schools from 2006 to 2011.

He took a $4,000 payment from insurance brokers who had contracts with the school district, authorities said.

Vitta then learned the FBI was investigating dealings between the brokers and public entities, including the Rockaway school district.

He allegedly met with one of the brokers at a Denville restaurant last January and instructed the broker to lie to the FBI. Unbeknownst to Vitta, the broker was a cooperating witness and recorded the conversation for the FBI.

Vitta faces a maximum prison sentence of 20 years in prison when he’s sentenced in April.

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